Flaky paint on a Toyota Auris - what are my rights?

Thirteen months ago I bought a Toyota Auris. I paid extra to have body moulding protective door strips added to the car and for them to be colour matched (sprayed) to the car. However, nine months later, the door mouldings started to bubble and flake away.

Over the last few weeks the deterioration has gotten worse, but the dealer I bought the car from has changed hands. I have also been told that the body mouldings are not covered under the main paintwork warranty and that they are only covered for 12 months - that was approximately four weeks past.

Nowhere in my car documentation does in say that the paintwork on the body mouldings is only covered for 12 months - the warranty states 12 years for corrosion and three years for general paintwork. Another Toyota dealership has offered to make good the areas of paint defects that are currently obvious, free of charge, but they have said that they would not repair any further defects if they should occur.

My dilemma is whether to accept the offer of a patch up job or to insist all of the paint work on the door mouldings is stripped back and reprimerd and re-sprayed with a new top finish coat of paint - do I have the right to insist on the later?

Asked on 1 May 2014 by private car owner

Answered by Honest John
You have had accessory body mouldings fitted and they are not covered by the car's warranty, only by the warranty of the dealer that fitted them. So your only rights are against the dealer that fitted them.

Similar questions
I have just bought a 2013 BMW 320D and after giving it a proper clean this weekend I have found a discoloured area about 12 by 6-inches in the centre of the roof. The car is silver in colour and the area...
I have just bought a new Sapphire Blue Pearl Honda Civic. I gave it a hand wash yesterday and noticed many scratches through to to the white base coat. What should I do? It has been parked on my drive...
I bought a ten year old Ford Ranger from a dealer seven months ago, with a three month warranty. The timing belt went last week and the dealer's own mechanic fitted a new one just before we bought it....
Related models
Excellent reliability record and long warranty, hybrid version is economical and efficient, easy to drive and live with.
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer